Watch The Haunting of Bly Manor

The Haunting of Bly Manor is a Netflix original series that premiered in October 2020. It is a supernatural horror drama created by Mike Flanagan and is based on the novel "The Turn of the Screw" by Henry James. Similarly to its predecessor, "The Haunting of Hill House," the show features several interconnected storylines with different characters, but this time set in an old English countryside manor.

The series follows Dani Clayton (Victoria Pedretti), an American au pair who takes a job at Bly Manor to take care of two young orphaned children, Miles (Benjamin Evan Ainsworth) and Flora (Amelie Bea Smith). Dani is quickly introduced to the housekeeper, Mrs. Grose (T'Nia Miller), and the estate's gardener, Jamie (Amelia Eve). However, it doesn't take long for strange and unusual events to start happening.

The show intertwines several storylines involving the estate's previous occupants and the events that led to their untimely demises. These include Peter Quint (Oliver Jackson-Cohen), the former valet who had an intense relationship with the children's former governess, Rebecca Jessel (Tahirah Sharif). They both died under mysterious circumstances, and their presence seems to linger within the walls of the manor.

As the series progresses, the characters' pasts are slowly revealed, and we begin to understand how they are all connected to Bly Manor. We learn about the tragic histories and untimely demises of the many ghosts that haunt the house. We see how each of them is trapped within the walls of the manor, unable to move on until their unfinished business is resolved.

The series has a gothic horror atmosphere, with many eerie moments, and hauntingly beautiful visuals. The cinematography is stunning, with shots that are carefully framed and color graded to create a sense of unease and dread. The sound design is impeccable, adding to the creepy ambiance of the show. Each episode is named after a different ghost, and as each story comes to light, we get closer to understanding the horrors that haunt Bly Manor.

The acting in the series is excellent all around, with each character bringing their unique quirks and personalities to the forefront. Victoria Pedretti is particularly excellent as Dani, who is faced with a past trauma that she tries to suppress as she navigates her new job at Bly Manor. Jackson-Cohen is also impressive as Peter Quint, who is charming and manipulative, playing games with the living and the dead.

The Haunting of Bly Manor is an excellent follow-up to the critically acclaimed The Haunting of Hill House. It is a slow-burning series with a strong central mystery that keeps the audience on their toes. The show is not as terrifying as its predecessor, but it manages to be just as unsettling with its gothic horror vibes and meticulous storytelling.

In conclusion, if you are a fan of horror shows or gothic literature, The Haunting of Bly Manor is definitely worth a watch. It is a complex and thought-provoking series that will keep you engaged and guessing until the very end.

The Haunting of Bly Manor is a series that ran for 1 seasons (9 episodes) between October 9, 2020 and on Netflix